FORFAR ATHLETIC 5 SHIRE 1

If people were sceptical about claims that Forfar Athletic will be the team to beat in the Third Division they should think again.

Dick Campbell’s Loons certainly took advantage of some very poor Shire defending and, at times, looked a little unsound at the back themselves.

But there was no doubting the comprehensive nature of their victory at Station Park which was absolutely measured; nor was the scoreline an unfair reflection of the course of the game.

Andy Rodgers had briefly raised Shire hopes after equalising an early Forfar penalty but that was false promise which was undid by some poor defending that allowed the home team to leap into a 3-1 half-time advantage they never looked like giving up.

Shire made the anticipated changes to the team that had drawn so disappointingly with Elgin the week previously.

Eddie Forest’s head injury ruled him out and that meant David Dunn coming in at left-back. Dean Richardson dropped out after the birth of his baby daughter and Simon Lynch came in for his first start to make up a three-pronged strike force with Andy Rodgers and Stephen McGuire.

Shire were quickly on the attack and after two minutes Paul Hay’s deep cross was cut out for a corner with McGuire lurking at the back post. From the resulting flag kick Tully sent a header flashing wide when well-placed.

But Forfar settled the quicker and Chris Templeman was given an early opportunity with a 20 yard free-kick which crashed straight into the Shire defensive wall.

After 10 minutes the home team took the lead from the penalty spot. Darren Brady’s cross from the right hit Dunn on the arm and referee George Salmond pointed to the spot. Ross Campbell sent Jamie Barclay the wrong way with the penalty.

Some lovely play down Forfar’s left on the quarter hour set up a shooting chance for Templeman but Barclay brought off a fine save which, in any case, was made irrelevant by the linesman’s offside flag.

On 19 minutes minutes Lynch was played through by Donaldson and managed to get a shot away but he was also ruled offside.

The high wind was damaging both team’s attempts to play football but Forfar looked the best bet to score but Shire surprised everyone by levelling the scores on 23 minutes.

Some strong running down the right from Paul Hay ended with a cross which McGuire mis-hit and Rodgers was waiting at the back post to bundle the ball over the line.

That produced a wee purple patch with Jamie Stevenson cracking one in from 20 yards which was deflected wide for a corner.

But two minutes of defensive madness undid all the good work. First Paul Hay was skinned down the right and the cross gave Campbell a free header which he cracked past Barclay from six yards.

That was on 31 minutes and two minutes later Martin Fotheringham’s high, hanging cross got caught in the wind, totally deceiving Barclay, and allowing Templeman the simplest of shots to make it 3-1.

Forfar created another opening in the opening seconds of the second period. Martin Fotheringham hit a 40 yard wind-assisted free-kick that caught Barclay of his line and clipped the crossbar.

Shire were showing no signs of tightening up at the back. After 52 minutes Barclay had to make a great diving save to deny Ian Campbell a fourth Forfar goal and from the resulting corner Templeman headed over when he ought to have scored.

Shire withdrew Craig Donaldson and replaced him with Dean Richardson in a bid to shore up a midfield that looked over-run at times. Rodgers dropped into a more midfield role with Lynch and McGuire saying up but, in truth, they had little service.

It was all academic anyway after 61 minutes when one simple pass split the Shire defence and left Campbell and Barclay the only players in the final third of the pitch. The Forfar man’s finish was lovely, though, curling the ball past Barclay’s despairing dive.

With the game lost young Jason Elliott was given a run out, replacing the ineffective Rodgers. Jamie Stevenson tried to at least keep things on the forward foot and he tried two shots from the edge of the box which at least gave the Forfar keeper something to do although neither troubled him unduly.

At the other end Forfar never stopped trying to add to their tally and after 79 minutes a great David King challenge prevented Kevin Fotheringham making it 5-1.

But Fotheringham did make it a nap hand in injury time from the penalty spot after Barclay had tripped substitute Brian Deasley inside the box.

FORFAR ATHLETIC : Brown, Malcolm, I. Campbell, Trialist, K. Fotheringham, Tulloch, Gordon(C. Smith 74), R. Campbell(Deasley 63), Templeman, Brady(N. Smith 77), M. Fotheringham.

SHIRE : Barclay, Hay, Dunn(McKenzie 60), Tully, King, Weaver, Donaldson,(RIchardson 54), Stevenson, Lynch, McGuire, Rodgers(Elliott 63).

REFEREE : G. Salmond

ATTENDANCE : 425.